Tongs



A. D. FERGUSON Feb. 19, 1929.

'I'ONGS Filed Dec. 14, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l @550 7 was.

Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,822 A. D. FERGUSON I TONGS I A Filed Dec. 14, 1926 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 48 .1 lez'awaerfl 1 57296560722 Z AM A- m @560 rrzey.

Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER D. FERGUSON, OF MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

TONGS.

Application filed December 14, 1926. Serial No. 154,818.

'mechanism for gripping the drill rods and for imparting a rapid spinning movement to the rod to completely release the joint. Still another obj cct of this invention is to provide an improved breaking and spinning ton'g which'is connected to the well derrick and to the cat-line from the power driven cat-head of the drilling apparatus. Another object of this invention is to provide an improved power operated tong for making and breaking out or unscrewing tool joints. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully. appear.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustrationone form which the invention may assumein practice.

In these drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved tong.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinally extending vertical sectional view' taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1, parts being shown in elevation.

Fig. '3 is a'detail view illustrating clamping or gripping aws and actuating means there for.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view, taken in a plane corresponding to the plane of Fig. 2,

illustrating a portion oft-he improved spinning mechanism.

' Fi 5 a detail sectional viewtal-rcn on line o5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a diagrannnatic view illustrating thediiferent-operative positions of the tong when breaking a tool joint.

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention there is shown an improvedbreaking and spinning tong generally designated 1 and comprising a body or casing 2 having formed integraltherewitli a radially extending hollow arm or lever B. A detachable coverplate i is provided to permit access to the internal mechanism of the tong and this plate isse cured by screws 5 to the casing Preferably formed integral with the frame 2 is a stationary jaw 6, while pivoted at the outer end of this jaw, at 7, is ajaw 8. Jaws 9 and 10 are also provided pivoted together at 11. As clearly shown in Fig. 3 the jaw 9 has pivoted thereto, as at 12, a spring pressed latch 13 adapted to engage a projecting lug 14 formed on the jaw 8, thereby connecting the adjacent ends of the jaws 8 and 9 together. A handle or grasping portion 15 is formed on the latch to facilitate manual release thereof. Carried by each of the aws 6, 8, 9, and 10 are vertical pins 16 (see Fig. 5) on which spaced alined roller bearings 17 are mounted, these bearings being disposed within recesses 18 formed in the jaws. Disposed within the jaws and rotatablymounted on the bearings 17 are gripping devices comprising gear segments 19 having internal serrations or teeth 19 the purpose of which will be later described. The gear segments 19 of the gripping devices have at the lower end thereof internal grooves 20 with which inwardly projecting flanges 21 on the jaws interlock, thereby preventing displacement of the gear segments therefrom. The jaws 6, 8, 9, and 10 are so constructed that they may accommodate several, different sizes of gripping aws to compensate for the different diameters of rods, casing, or pipe to be uncoupled. Again referring to Fig. 3 it will. be observed that the jaw 10 is pivotally connected as at 22 to one arm, herein the shorter arm, of a bell-crank 23 pivoted, as at 24-, on the frame 2. The bell-crank 23 is housed within the'frame 2, a lateral recess being provided in the frame to permit swinging movement of the bellcrank about its pivot. In this instance one of the arms of the bell-crank 23"is elongated and carries at its extremity a guide rollorsheave rotatably arm. The bell-crank 23 is adapted to be swung about its pivot to cause the aws 8, 9.

and 10 to move inwardly. thereby gripping mounted on a vertical pin 26 carried by the ing an inner race supported by the shaft 29" is a winding drum 32 having, formed thereon on the'upper. surface thereof ratchet teeth 33 which engagecorresponding ratchet'teeth '84'to'rm'ed on the lower surface of the spur gear 27 .i The ratcl1et teeth 33 on the drum are 7 resiliently or yieldably held intoengagement with theratchet teeth 34011 the gear '27 by means of (PjCO'ilECl spring 35 encircling the shaft 29 and interposed between thebottoin of Y thegcasing 2-and a. flanged sleeve 36' keyed to "and sli'dable ax ally onthejs'tationary shaft interposed :betwcen'the flanged portion o'l the non rota tablesleeve 36 and the bottom cover-plate 37 secured tothe rotatable drum 32 is a ball'thrus't bearing 38.. It will bexobvio'us' that the gear 27 and 'drum 32 rotate ,togetherin one direction but when the drum rotates in the opposite direction the ratchet teeth33 slip'over the ratchet teeth 84thereby permitting the drum to rotate relative tothe gear; Secured to thenon-rotatable sleeve 36 at one end thereof andto the drum 32 at the ther end thereof is'a fiat spiral spring 39 and this spring al-ways'tendsto cause the drum 32 to wind in a flat wire"cab'le*4(l thereon, the

latter being suitably seeuredto the druinat one'end Ithereofr Thecable'40 extends from "the drum 32'around the guide roll 25 on the 'bellicrank 28 and longitudinally outwardly through the hollow portion of the arm'3and around a guide roll orfsheave 41 rotatably mountedon a vertical pin 42carriedby the arm, the free outer end of this cable having attached thereto an eye member 43.. As shown in: the drawings the cover plate 4 of the frame is provided with a slot or groove 44 within which as reciprocably mounted a .dog 7 or plunger45.

l his dog45 is normally forced inwardly by a spring 46 intolocking engagement with one oi a plurality 0t recesses 47 'formedin the hub ofthe gear 27 and conse- 'quent-ly' the gear 27 *is held against rotation relative to the frame '2'. Suitably secured to the dog 45 andextendlngioutwardlythrough thehollow'arin3 is a cable 48 which extends around a guide roller sheave-49 rotatably mounted on a vertical pin? 50 'c-arried by the arm. The cable 48 has secured thereto at its free end an eye member-51'.

V In theoperationot thef'iinprovcd breaking and spinning tong the latter issupportedxin the usual manner by acablesuspei'rded from the derrick. Thej aws'8 an'd 9 are swungopen at this timeQ the latch 13 being released and the tong is suitably. positioned relative tothe f drill jrod. The-jaws are then swung inward- V7 ly to enibrace the rod andlocked in this position bylneans of the latch 13. The eye menirapidly rotated.

b er 43 on the cable 40 is then suitably connected to the cat-line 52 which 1s wound on the usual cat-head 53 of the drilling apparatus 54 as clearly shown in Fig. 6; The cable 48 is connected to thederrick post 55 oi the derrick. A coiled spring 56 is connected to the cable 48 and this spring takes up the slack in the cableavhen the tong is inthe dotted line position shown in Fi 6. The cat'hcad 53 is then connected to the drill engine and the line is wound in lby power, thereby caush g the cable 40 tobecome taut. Co! 'cuuen swinging movement of the tong the slack in.

the cable 48 is taken up and the dog 45 is then automatically released vi roin the recess 47. Upon release of the dog: the 27 isdisconnected from the frame 2 and the cable 40 is rapidly; unwound from the drum 32-and due to the connection of the ratchet teeth between the drum andr'gear 27 the latter is also Asthis gear meshes with the gear formed by the gear segments 19 of: the gripping devices the latter are rapidly rotated and as they grip the drill red the latter is rapidly rotated therewith and consequently the joint is completely unthrcadcd. It will thus beevident that the drill rod is initiallygripped'and relatively slowly rotated to break the joint by the swinging movement of thetong lever 3 and thereafter thejoint is completely uncoupled by the relatively rapid spinning action automatically imparted to the rod independently of further swinging movement of the tong lever. As the drum 23:3 rotates during the spinning operation the spring 39 will wind up tightly and when the cat-line 52 and cable 40 are slackened this spring will'cause the drum to rewind the cable 40, the ratchet teeth 33 on the drum slipping over the ratchettecth 34 on the gear 27 at that time. The uncoupled drill rod will be suo'iorted b I the ton which held suspended from the derrick in the usual manner and upon. release ol' the latch 13 the jaws inn y be opened to. release the jaws-from the rod. This single operation should be eimugh to disconnect-the joint entirely. l'hnreycr. in

handling rodshavingunusually long threads this operation may be repeated by slackening the cat-line 52 and the tong will automation lv return from the in ll line position to the dotted line position in Fig; 6 by the means of the coiledsprin'g 56. The cat-line 52 may then =aga1n'be wound in and the spinning opera- 4310B described above is repeated until the joint is completely inithreaded. The i1nlid proved tong may also be used to make or thread joints in an obvious manner.

As a result of this invention it will be noted that an improved tong is provided by means of which the breaking and spinning of tool joints may be facilitated and the time consumed reduced to a minimum. It will further be noted that an improved breaking and spinning tong is provided which may be used in the same manner as an ordinary breaking tong and which may be subjected to the same hard usage encountered in drilling work. It will further be noted that the improved breaking and'spinning tong is of simple and compact construction, the improved tong being substantially no larger than the usual tong which has no spinnlng ii'unctlon. These and other advantages of this invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in this art.

WVhile I have in this application specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that the same has been shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modilied and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

iVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for uncoupling drill rod oints comprising power operated means for initially breaking the joint and means for thereafter automatically imparting a spinning movement to the rod to completely uncouple the oint;

2. A device for uncoupling drill rod joints comprising power operated means for breaking the joint, means for thereafter imparting a spinning movement to the drill rod to completely uncoupleithejoint, and means for automatically returning said latter means to [its initial position after the joint is unco u pied.

3; A device for uncoupling drill. rod joints comprising means for mltially gripping and relatively slowly rotating the drill rod for breaking the joint, and means for thereafter automatically imparting a relatively rapid spinning movement to the drill rod to completely uncouple the joint.

4. A device for uncoupling'drill rod joints comprising means for initially gripping and comprising means for initially breaking the joint and means associated withsaid joint breaking means for thereafter automatically,

6. A device for uncoupling drill rod joints comprising a casing including an elongated hollow arm, means for gripping the drill rod comprising jaws pivotally mounted on said casing, means for actuating said jaws including acable extending through said hollow arm, and means for guiding said cable mounted on the outer extremity of said arm. 7. A device for uncoupling drill rod joints comprising a casing including an elongated hollow arm, means for gripping the drill rod comprising jaws pivotally mounted on said casing, means for actuating said jaws including a cable extending through said hollow arm. and a bell crank operated by said cable and pivotally connected to one of said jaws and means for guiding said cable mounted on the outer extremity of said arm.

8. A device for uncoupling drill rod joints comprising a casing having a projecting arm thereon, means for gripping the drill rod comprising jaws pivotally mounted on said casing, and means for actuating said jaws comprising a cable and means cooperating with said cable and movable when tension is applied thereto.

9. A device for uncoupling drill rod joints comprising a casing, drill rod gripping jaws pivotally mounted on said casing, a drum rotatably mounted within said casing, a cable on said drum, and means cooperating with said cable for actuating said jaws to grip the joints comprising a casing, drill rod gripping aws plvotally mounted on said casing, a

drum rotatably mounted within said casing, a cable'on said drum, and means cooperating with said cable'for actuating said to grip the drill 'rod when. tension isapplied. to said cable, and means for automatically rotating said drum to wind in said cable when said tension on said cable is released.

11. A device for uncoupling drill rod joints comprising a tong adapted to grip the drill rod and having a portion forming a lever arm adapted to be swung to break the joint, and means for automatically imparting a spinning movement to the rod to completely uncouple the joint independently of further swinging movement of said lever arm. 7 j i 12. A device for uncoupling drill -rod joints comprising atong adapted to grip the drill rod and having a portionitorming a lever arm adapted to be swung to break the joint, and means automatically releasable upon a predetermined swinging movement of said tong'for imparting a spinning movement to the drill rod independently 'of further swinging movement of said lever arm.

13. A device for uncoupling drill rod joints'comprising a tong adapted to grip a drill rod and including a lever adapted to be swung to rotate the rod to break the joint,

and means for rotating the rod independently of turther swinging movement of said lever. 1

14:.{A- device foruncoupling drill rod joints comprising a tong, power operated 'means for causing thetong to grip a drill rod and including a lever for swinging the tong to rotate the rodto break the joint, and means automatically releasable" upon: a .predeter-- mined swinging movement of the tong to' impart a spinning movement-to the rod inclependentl v o1 said lever.

:15; In a tong, a casing having a laterally projecting arm,- drill rod gripping jaws piv otally mounted on said casing, means carried by said casing fori'actuating'said jaws to cause the latter to grip the drill rod including 'comprisinga tong adapted to grip a rod and having a lever armadapted to be swungto break! the'; o1nt, and means iautomatically "operative ;afterf a predetermined swinging movement of said lever arm for rotating 1 "the rod; independently of further swinging 'movement of said lever arm. 4 a

17. Inatong, a casing having a laterally pro ectinglever portion, gripping aws pivotally mounted on said casing, power op'erated means foractuating saidjaws comprising abell crank pivotally mounted on said casing and having an armthereof 'pivotally connected to one of said jaws, the other arm th'ereotzcarrying a guide, roll',a flexible element guided by said roll for actuatingsaid bellcrank, said flexible element extending outwardly along' said lever portion, and a guidingroll carried by the extremity: of-said lever i. portion ment. e

for guiding said flexible ele- 18;LIn a tong,a casing, jaws pivotally mounted oil-said casing; rotatable gripping devices carried by said jaws andrjournaled tliereo'n means carried by said casing for;ac

tu ating said jaws, and means ca'rried by said casing and cooperating withsald awactuating'means for effecting rotation of said gripping devices bodily relative to said jaws.

19; In; tong, a casing jawspivotally mounted thereon ripping devices erotatably mounted on said jaws ncai stor effecting ro- V r tatmir oi" sald gripping "devices relative to said" jaws comprising drumjrotatabiy cable is unwound therefrom, and operative connections between said; drum a'nd gripping devices ."for transmitting drum ,rotation thereto;

a 20; Ina tong,- a casing, jaws pivotaliy mounted thereon, gripping devices rotatahly turther swinging movement of.

moasza mounted on' said jaws, means forefiecting rotation of said gripping devices relative to saidjaw's including a drum rotatably mounted, on said casing,.a nd a cable wound on said drum, and means for actuating said jaws including means cooperating'with said cable and operated when tenslon 1s appiled to said cable.

21. In a tong, azcasmg jaws pivotally mounted thereon, gripping devices rotatably mounted on said aws, saic gripping devices lincluding gear segments, means for eii'ecting ,grippingdevices relative to sa-id jaws comprising a gear meshing with said gear seg- .ments, a winding drum disposed coaxial with said gear and rotatably mounted on said casing; cooperating ratchet teeth on said drum and gear, a springfor forcing said ratchet teeth on said drum into engagement with the ratchet teeth on said gear whereby said gear and drum-may rotate together in.

one direction and saiddrum mayrotatc rela .tive to said gear in the opposite direction, and a ca-ble wound on said drum for rotating the latter. c

23. Ina tong, acasing; jaws pivotally mounted thereon, gripping devices rotatably mounted on said jaws and including gear segments, means'for effecting rotation of said grippingdevices relative to said aws compr sing a gear meshing with said gear sogments, a wmdlng drum disposed coaxial with said gear and rotatably mounted on said casing, cooperating ratchet teeth on said drum and gear, a spring for forcing said ratchet teethon said drum into engagement with the ratchet teeth on said gear wherebysaid gear and drum may rotate together in one direction and said drum may rotate relative to said gear in the opposite direction, and a cable wound on said drum, and means for a ctuating said jaws comprising a bell-crank pivotally mounted on said casing and having an arm thereof pivotally connected to one of said jaws, the otherv arm thereof carrying a guiding roll engaging said cable, said bcll crank being actuated when tension is applied to said cable.

mounted on said casing, a cable wound on said drum,' said drum rotatingwhen' said 24. In a tong, a casing, jaws pivotally ments, a windingdrum disposed coalvial with said gear and rotatably mounted on. said rasing cooperating ratchet teeth on said drum and gear, a spring for forcing said ratchet teeth on said drum into engagement With the ratchet teeth on said gear whereby said gear and drum may rotate together in one direction. and said drum may rotate relative to said gear in the opposite direction, and a cable Wound on said drum, means "for actuating said jaws comprising a bell-crank pivotally 10 mounted 011 said casing and having an arm thereof pivotally connected to one of said jaws, the other arm thereof carrying a guidin roll engaging said cable, said bell-crank being actuated when tension is applied to said cable, and means for automatically Winding the cable on said drum when tension on said cable is released.

In testimony whereof I altix my signature.

ALEXANDER D. FERGUSON. 

